I love Shailene Woodley. Not in that dopey “girl crush” way (an expression I loathe) but in a “wow—there is a genuinely nice human being who is using their fame to highlight important causes” kind of way. Shailene is a gal who likes simple things—food cooked in “their purest version,” using beets to not only eat but also as blush on her cheeks (really!) and living life out of one carry-on suitcase.

Shailene is having one heck of a summer as the star of The Fault in Our Stars which is sending the actress into superstar status around the world. She could walk around with a sense of entitlement and look down on others but instead one of her goals in life is to “be the best version of myself and be so kind and compassionate towards others.”

Honestly I could go and gush about her so more but just get the magazine and read about this fabulous young lady on your own. She is good people!

So what else is in the July/August issue of Women’s Health?

15-Minute Workout “Run Faster, Get Firmer”

Summer’s here and we are all enjoying the cardio outside thing but many of us neglect weight training which can actually slow us down. Dr. Jordan Metzl (author of The Exercise Cure) provided this workout that uses bodyweight only (no equipment!) and can be done anywhere to supplement your cardio workouts.

“4 Moves: Insanely Toned Abs”

Here we have a crunch-free workout from trainer Katie Mack (Peak Performance NYC) that you can perform three sets of on three non-consecutive days per week to get your core lean and strong.

“8 Ugly-Cute Sandals”

This is one trend I just can’t get behind. Not that I hate comfy sandals but I like “cute” things in my glossies.

Now for the pages that give the “I Wants!”

Women’s Health has collected several shopping pages in this issue that are making say “I want that!” for example:

“Get Outside”

There are tips for taking average of “free equipment” in your local park plus gear to keep you safe from the elements.

Okay—I am not a big runner but the Asics Abby Pocket Bra featured here is to die for!

The rest of the best of this issue of Women’s Health:

“Power Up Your Beauty Routine”Women’s Health collected the latest beauty products that will help with sun damage, tired eyes plus a souped-up dry shampoo I wish I had with me at Fitbloggin’ this year.

“Guide to Sex Toys” Pretty thorough I have to say…

“High Anxiety” Science shows that women are more prone to anxiety and acute fears than men. (Um, is that a ladder you would like me to climb? No thank you.) If you have phobias that hold you back from enjoying life—check out this article.

“Vote for the Next Fitness Star” Women’s Health has narrowed down the finalists for their annual “Fitness Star” competition and you can meet them all in this issue.

Hey Gang! Are you looking for a headband that will actually stay in place AND take care of that annoying sweat that runs down your forehead? Well the good folks at Bondi Band send me my own pink “crown” to try out as I teach my spin classes and let me just say this—they work!

Each band is comfortable to wear and will NOT slip while providing great coverage for the top of your head. Bondi Bands are also unisex which means anyone can wear them weather you playing some Frisbee in the sun or taking on a triathlon.

Bondi Band has several styles and logos you can choose from plus you can send them your own personal logo if you want something a little more personal. Yeah! From today until June 28th you can order from Bondi Band and receive a 10% discount by using the discount code SWEATPINK.

But if you want to win one from little old me—here is your chance. I have two from you to choose from (see below.) So whether you want a pop of color (“Suck it Up Cupcake”) or if you prefer the black & white band (“Play Hard or Go Home”) you need to do the following to win one of them.

Tweet out your interest with the following: “I want to win @bondiband from @fitapproach @brooklynfitchik #sweatpink #bondiband” I will pick one winner this Saturday, June 7th and contact them directly. Bondi Band is sponsoring this post.

Can you believe that summer is finally upon us? I for one am just loving the hell out of this hot weather and do not want to even look at my black boots anytime soon (enough wearing layers, too!) Anyhoo, I just wanted to formally announce how super excited I am to partner with the super-amazing EleVen by Venus. Venus Williams is a personal fitness hero and I love how she keeps it fierce both on and off the court.

In the near future I will be able to offer all of my friends and family (and as a reader of mine you count under both!) discounts on upcoming collections plus her best-selling gear. Yay for all of us! So stay tuned for all of the EleVen by Venus news in the future. It is looking so bright here—we gonna have to wear shades, y’all!

So today is Sunday, the day we begin Daylight Savings Time and this past week I wrote a survival guide on Sweat Guru describing my best strategies for fighting the “sleepies” brought on by losing that hour of sleep. Alas, in spite of my best efforts to NOT feel that hour of sleep lost my butt is dragging around today and I am working hard to stay motivated.

But know this—I am HERE for you people today and every day. Pinky swear!

I have a few fun things to chit-chat about this week so let’s not waste any more time and get right to it, shall we?

Last night I did go to bed early in order to make up for Daylight Savings Time but made the colossal mistake of starting to read Mad as Hell by Dave Itzkoff. Dave is a reporter for the New York Times and is one of my favorite writers—period. His newest book is all about the making of the film Network which is one of the best films ever made (if not THE best) taking on the sensationalizing of the evening news. I first heard about Mad as Hell on The Fogenest Files podcast (hosted by the amazing Jake Fogelnest.) If you have never seen Network before—do yourself a favor and check it out today! THEN get this amazing book so we can chat about it in the future. Your brain will thank you for it!

My girl Josie of Yum Yucky recently talked about trying Intermittent Fasting to get through a workout & weight loss plateau. In essence she is breaking down her eating schedule to a few hours during the day to allow her body time to properly digest food and repair itself. I was a little skeptical at first but her results are so amazing that for the next few weeks I will give it a go. Monday-Friday I will eat at 9 am, Noon and 3 pm (Paleo-centric, of course) and over the weekends try to keep it to a 9-hour window (I teach all morning both days and mama needs to fuel up first!) Get back to y’all at the end of the month to let you know how it goes.

If you have HBO you must see Six by Sondheim which is a documentary about songwriter Stephen Sondheim where they examine his writing process and the creative inspirations for six of his best works including Send in the Clowns and my new theme song—I’m Still Here (Check out the video below by Jarvis Cocker—love!) Not kidding—I cried four times during the film and yes, I am a HUGE sap.

MaxFlow Sports Headband Giveaway

For this week’s giveaway I am offering one of two MaxFlow Sports headbands that they sent to me because I am one of their brand ambassadors—yay!

MaxFlow Sports uses a “Cross-Grip” technology so that they actually stay in place the entire time you work out (imagine that?) So while keeping the sweat out of your face they will not slip. Also, they are very comfortable and easy to maintain (machine washable.) The colors I am offering today are solid pink and a black & white print. You will one of them and I will keep the other!

Now, on to this week’s Vlog post (Forgive my sleepy face, please. It’s been a long day.)

Got that? So if you want to win this giveaway you must do the following (Continental United States, please!)

Post a comment below (on this post) letting me know you are interested.

Send a comment on Twitter and say “I want to win the @MaxFlowSports headband from @BrooklynFitChik”

Featuring: My Friend Brooke Birmingham in Woman’s Day magazine, My Twitter Stream Featured on Diets in Review,The Da Vinci Body Board Workout at My Apartment, The Film Love Actually, NO Gwyneth Takedown Interviews on the Horizon

Plus: My Cindy Whitmarsh DVD Giveaway!

Hey there! Hi there! Ho there!

So sorry for the delay but I was completely swamped last Sunday and could not get focused enough to Vlog for you. So it is TODAY that I finally get my butt in gear and give you all the latest about what’s going on with me and the people I love.

Annnnd here we go…

Brooklyn Fit Chick Latest News:

I seem to only know fabulous people lately because my friend Brooke Birmingham of http://brookenotonadiet.com/ is featured this month in Woman’s Day magazine! Brooke lost over 172 pounds after joining Weight Watchers and writing about her health journey on her Blog. I am SO proud of her and encourage you all to get the January 2014 issue and look for page 95 to read all about her. (Love this gal and my cats regard her very highly, as well!)

This past week I found out I made the “Best to Follow on Twitter in the Best of 2013 from Diets in Review as a top person to follow on Twitter! Yay! (Thank you Brandi!)

My cat Tennessee was nominated as “One of the Cutest Cats in Brooklyn” by the Brooklyn Bugle (All those posts on Instagram are paying off people! I am looking for some “Grumpy Cat” money to come in soon…)

I had the lovely Floery Mahoney of the super-hot DaVinci Body Board come to my apartment to offer me a personal workout to to try out that amazing piece of equipment. (Which, by the way, is completely AWESOME and I will write a full review for Fit Bottomed Girls soon.)

Then I caught a nasty cold that took my all of my energy last week and then capped THAT off by slipping on my bedroom rug Thursday night and bruising my tailbone (coccyx) which let me tell you— hurts like an MF-er!!

Also, I finally got around to seeing Love Actually and have to say I agree with this entire review from Jezebel. In short—it stinks like yesterday’s diapers!

Lastly I found out from my good friend Stacy that Vanity Fair will NOT be publishing an epic, takedown interview of Gwyneth Paltrow (There is no Santa Clause people!)

Okay enough of my crabby writing and please enjoy this week’s Vlog!

Now let us get to this week’s giveaway!!!! Here are the details of the Cindy Whitmarsh Giveaways!

Get Fit in Six Weeks, Stay Fit for Life with Cindy Whitmarsh’s New U.F.I.T. Weight Loss Program!

SAN DIEGO, CA –Fitness and sports nutrition expert Cindy Whitmarsh has trained everyone from professional athletes to new moms. Her new U.F.I.T. weight loss program asks women to give her six weeks, one minute at a time, for results that will last a lifetime. The three Ultra Focused Interval Training DVDs each include two 20-minute workouts. Each workout is made up of one, two or three minute intervals, alternating cardio and toning. The moves are athletic and uncomplicated. What is U.F.I.T. Training? It’s an intense interval training method consisting of targeted intervals to turn any body into a calorie-burning machine while building a sleek, toned physique! Since no workouts can beat what one eats, the complete downloadable U.F.IT. package ($39.95) also includes a meal plan and a workout calendar. Each DVD is available on line and sells for $14.95 ($39.95 set) http://cindywhitmarshfitness.com. Everything (including meal plan $19.95 and workout calendar $9.95) is available individually or as complete set.

The three DVDs are:

U.F.I.T. Ultra Burn – Calorie Crushing Cardio and Sculpt & Stretch

U.F.I.T. Ultra Lean – Upper Body Bliss and Lower Body Blast

U.F.I.T Ultra Tight – Hard Body and 6 Pack Abs

Hand weights are used. Modifications are offered for beginners. One can expect sweat will pour but that’s what it takes to make lasting, noticeable changes.

The workout calendar included in the complete set makes it easy to know which workout to do each day. For the first two weeks, one only has to commit to twenty minutes for six consecutive days.

The meal plan includes a first week jump start, grocery list, advice on supplements, eating on the go and more. Week one switches the body into an accelerated change mode. From there it moves into a plan designed to help anyone stay on track to be fit, maintain lean muscle and live healthier. Three meals and two snacks daily provide approximately 1250 calories each day for woman and 1750 for men. Each meal aims for a ratio of 30% protein, 50% carbohydrates and 20% fat.

About Cindy Whitmarsh: Certified by the American Council on Exercise and National Association of Sports Nutrition, Cindy has worked with San Diego Charger football players, Charger girls, pro beach volleyball players and the anchors of Good Morning San Diego where she is the fitness correspondent. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Corporate & Community Fitness/Nutrition from North Dakota State University. She moved to San Diego from North Dakota in 1994 when she was 40 pounds heavier than she is now. She has maintained that weight loss even after having three children ranging in age from 2 to 13. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter @CindyWhitmarsh, Instragram and www.CindyWhitmarshFitness.com.

Here is a clip from Cindy Whitmarsh so you can see her style for yourself.

In order to win these DVDs (Continental U.S. only!) you must do the following:

Post a comment below (on this particular blog post).

Tweet out your interest by saying “I want to win @CindyWhitmarsh from @BrooklynFitChik”

Carrie Underwood whom I just discovered as a kickass singer whose songs are now completely filling up my iPod. Not to sound like a total rock-centric snob but I never really “got” country/pop before but I am becoming a big fan of hers. (Honestly—Before He Cheats totally rules!!!)

Carrie keeps in shape by sticking with a vegan diet and working out as often as she can on the road. She also loves animals and took care of a stray dog last year. (Yay! Carrie!)

Carrie “Favorite Things” include:

Coconut Oil

Ezekiel Bread

Better’N Peanut Butter

Hot Yoga

So what else is in the November issue of Women’s Health?

“15-Minute Fat Blaster”

B.J. Gaddour, CEO of StreamFit.com produced this workout which can be done in 15 or 30 minutes should you want a quick butt-kicker.

“Take Yourself for a Ride”

Have you thought about taking a spin class but wasn’t sure on how to set up your bike? Try out this articles which features tips and a workout plan from Soul Cycle instructor Stacey Griffith.

“You’re Sick—Now What?” Whatever your sickly symptoms—look at this guide on how to get on the path to wellness ASAP. (And if you are really, REALLY sick—keep your butt home and away from the rest of us! Sheesh!)

“Thanksgiving with a Twist” Healthy and tasty Turkey Day recipes are featured here

“I Survived Being Stabbed” Women’s Healthhas this personal essay from Angela Champagne-From who really did live through an attack on her life by a knife-wielding, would-be kidnapper in a Minneapolis garage. Whoa!!

Naya Rivera: The Glee star models in a fashion story that is all about yummy knits and clothes that give me the “happies.” (I love autumn ware!)

Overall Grade:

A Really strong issue with beauty, fashion and lots of workout advice. Loved!

The heat—I can NOT take this heat anymore. Now if I had some of these groovy items that promise to cool me off while working out my attitude on it might improve. (Though I can’t guarantee it!)

“White Out”

I am not a big tennis person (I can barely hit the ball back!) However, these skirts make me want to act all preppy and super WASP-y.

“Best Road Trip Ever”

Looking for ideas for the rest of summer to both relax and get a good sweat going? Try this feature which includes a hike I MUST try out near Philly real soon.

“Drive-Through Done Right”

Ever been on a road trip and had to face nonstop, lousy fast food options for your meals? (Yuck!) Fitness offers suggestions for “safe bets” to order from the top ten popular chains.

And now the rest of this issue of Fitness:

“Running in the Family” Marathoner (and writer) Alyssa Shaffer talks about learning to run with her five-year old twins.

“Workouts Gone Wrong” There are tons of people out there doing a particular workout (coughs…CrossFit…coughs) that isn’t particularly a. safe or b. good for you. Get the details on what can go wrong (with the aforementioned one as well as others) and how to avoid injury.

“Pool It” Are you one of those lucky so-and-sos who has access to a pool? I hate you! Kidding! Look at this feature for moves you can do while hanging out in your pool. (Your pool? I hate you!)

“Pour it On” If you love juice but worry about empty calories—here are some healthy options.

“Ditch the Sugar Habit” Tips on how to ditch the sweet stuff from your life.

I am back to my regular Blog schedule and happy to be reporting back to all of you. (Woo hoo!) This past week has brought so much unexpected fun that I am not sure where to start. So how about I begin with how my week started, shall I?

This past Monday I woke up to find out via e-mail that Danny J. of The Sweaty Betties (I am an ambassador for them) was not only flying into NYC from Dallas that very afternoon on behalf of The Sweaty Betties business but that she was also planning on staying with me! Yikes! After doing a quick, panicked run around my apartment to make sure it was semi-hospitable for my lovely house guest (this was the first time we met in person) I decided to give up some of my long held phobias about having company over (fearing of judgment is a big deal for me) and embrace the unexpected.

Turns out Danny J. is just about as warm, friendly and fun as a person can possibly be. My cats loved her (which is the BIG test) and I was given the rare privilege to show her how to use the NYC subway system which she took to it right away. Goo Danny! Follow her on Twitter @SweatyBeitties

While Danny was bopping around New York she brought along with her the tall, gorgeous and immeasurably cool Rebekah Borucki of Bex Life.com who came over and hung out at my place for a spell Tuesday afternoon. (Honestly—Blogging about health & fitness has given me the opportunity to meet the best people in the world!) You can (and really must) follow on Twitter @BexLife.

On Wednesday Danny & Bex set up a get together of women from all over the East Coast (#NextLevelNYC) who have either belonged to the Sweaty Betties in the past or just completed The Social Academy (which I may just have to try out when it starts up again.)

On an unbelievably perfect day we met in Madison Square Park and let me say these are just some of the coolest women I have met in my life (I keep saying that, don’t I?)

After a quick yoga/plank competition in the park a group of us had a mighty fine time at Dos Caminos where I sat with a group of Latina women who explained to me the number of names I have mispronounced over the years (I took French—get off my back!)

Outside Dos Caminos

(Me with the incredible Danny J. One of us has experience posing effectively on camera. Guess which one?)